AFS Forum’s Post

I’m delighted to share Changing Lives, the flagship publication of the Private Sector Window of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). From cherry tomatoes in Haiti to macadamia nuts in Malawi, #GAFSP is improving the lives smallholder farmers living in the world’s poorest countries, connecting them with inputs, technology, markets, finance and training. By harnessing the private sector as an engine of growth and development, GAFSP and IFC - International Finance Corporation are using #blendedfinance solutions and #advisory support to boost agricultural productivity and food security. https://lnkd.in/grT9eMYW

The FAO and African Development Bank Group's #collaboration to enhance investment in food and #agriculture across Africa is a crucial step toward achieving #sustainable #development on the continent. By joining forces, these organizations are leveraging their combined expertise and resources to address the challenges in the agricultural sector. This partnership promises to unlock significant opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses, promoting innovation, food security, and economic growth. Such initiatives are vital in ensuring that Africa's agricultural potential is fully realized, benefiting millions across the continent. https://lnkd.in/d2EFGuaB

Today, at the ATLAS Lab Session, we convened key leaders from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to address the financing gap in #AfricanAgriculture. During this panel discussion co-hosted by Paris Peace Forum, OCP Group, UM6P - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in partnership with Somalia, Our Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Leonardus Vergütz, highlighted the vast potential of African agriculture, which currently contributes approximately 20% to the continent's GDP although it employs 60% of its workforce. Dr. Leonardus remarked, "#Africa possesses about 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land, presenting a remarkable opportunity to enhance global #FoodSecurity. However, we must confront significant challenges, including a $200 billion annual financing shortfall." He stressed the importance of forging effective public-private partnerships to assist farmers in adopting sustainable practices. “Through initiatives like the collaboration between IFC - International Finance Corporation and OCP Group, we aim to mobilize $800 million in blended capital by 2030 to strengthen agricultural value chains and reduce dependency on subsidies and food imports”. "Together, we can drive greater political focus and investment in African agriculture, enhancing food security and fostering a sustainable future for our communities," he added. #Investment #SDGs #UNGA79 #AfricanAgriculture

Excited to be part of the Extraordinary Summit of the AfricanUnion in Kampala, Uganda. Agriculture Ministers from 55 member states convene over three days to endorse the Kampala Declaration and craft a ten-year strategy supporting the Malabo Declaration on agricultural development from 2014. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) unveils its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2035, a culmination of ten months of collaboration with stakeholders and review by the AU’s Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture. This strategic blueprint targets economic growth, food security, and livelihood enhancement, tackling climate change issues in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 for sustainable agri-food systems and smallholder empowerment. Tomorrow marks a pivotal moment as the Presidents of all African Union member states gather to finalize and endorse the agreement, propelling this initiative forward. This engagement has provided profound insights into the realm of diplomatic negotiations. #AfricanUnion #AgriculturalDevelopment #SummitMeeting

The African Union Extra-ordinary Summit on the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is currently taking place from January 9th to 11th, 2025, in Kampala, Uganda. This summit aims to highlight the progress and plans of the CAADP CAADP program, which is an initiative endorsed by African Union member states to achieve sustainable agricultural growth and development across the continent. The summit will provide a platform to showcase achievements, share success stories, and discuss strategies to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience for the period 2026-2035. The event is organized jointly by the #African Union Commission, Department of Agriculture Rural Development Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), and African Union Development Agency- New Partnership African Development ( AUDA NEPAD ) . The summit will include meetings of Ministers in Charge of Agriculture Rural Development, water and Environment (ARDWE), and a Joint meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Agriculture, followed by the Summit of African Heads of State and Government. You can find more information about the summit here ↪️ (https://lnkd.in/dkHMK7FT). #Youth4Soil #SoilHealth #CA4SHWebinar2025 #CAADP

🌍Momentum for African agrifood systems transformation - from Kampala to Berlin! 🇪🇺 H.E. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, delivered a very powerful address today at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA). Leveraging on the momentum of the recent Extraordinary Summit of the African Union, held in Kampala earlier this month, she highlighted the crucial role of the newly launched Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2035 for achieving prosperity, food and nutrition security within the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). The urgency is clear, and the ambition for transformative change is high. But as also underscored by the Commissioner, strong international collaboration will be critical. Calling upon all partners to support endeavours to achieve inclusive, sustainable, resilient agrifood systems in Africa! 📣   #GFFA2025 #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #SustainableDevelopment #GlobalCollaboration #Africa #CAADP

The federal government has allocated 4,000 hectares of farmland to Origin Tech Group to carry out mechanised agriculture in Ejiba, Kogi state. This initiative is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s national food security agenda. According to the Managing Director of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), Dr. Adeniyi Saheed Aremu, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the firm captures three priority areas of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including food security, ending poverty, and economic growth. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eqB2EFaU

Imagery: You're handed a check. Cash it, and you get rich. Leave it, and it's just paper. That's agriculture today. The opportunity is right in front of us, but we're not seizing it! Farming holds the key to incredible wealth and prosperity. We have the land, the resources, and the knowledge. What we need is the drive, the innovation, and the collaboration to truly unlock the potential. Let's turn that paper check into a mountain of success! It's time for bold action, smart strategies, and a united front. We can transform our farms, our communities, and our lives. Let’s make agriculture the engine of our economic growth, creating jobs and opportunity for everyone. It’s time to cash that check! To help us achieve this, let's connect and collaborate! #AgricultureRevolution #FarmingForTheFuture #SustainableAgriculture #AgTechInnovation #FoodSecurityNow #InvestInFarming #PrecisionAgriculture #FarmerEmpowerment #RuralDevelopment #GlobalFoodSystem Mastercard Foundation UNDP West and Central Africa YALI Regional Leadership Center West Africa, Accra The Nature Conservancy GIZ Bureau Régional à Yaoundé International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) FAO

IFPRI’s research and policy recommendations led to the establishment of Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) in 2010, which continues to play a critical role in guiding the country’s agricultural development and sustainability. Tamsin Zandstra, Gashaw T. Abate, Shahidur Rashid, and Nicholas Minot outline how IFPRI’s long-term strategic research support to the ATA has led to several tangible government policy outcomes in this interactive story: https://lnkd.in/e24XkGqp CGIAR IFPRI Africa

Strengthening Agro-Policy for Rice Value Chains: A South-South Exchange I had the privilege of moderating a panel session on agro-policy dialogue for rice value chains during a capacity development and experience-sharing event held in Korea. The session brought together insights from Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and the Philippines, countries that have shown remarkable strides in enhancing rice value chains. The dialogue emphasized: • Policy alignment to strengthen production and value addition. • Leveraging regional experiences to address shared challenges. • Exploring South-South and triangular cooperation as a driver of sustainable development. It was particularly inspiring to hear how practical solutions and institutional coordination can help address pressing food security concerns while improving rural livelihoods. I look forward to continued collaboration to ensure that the lessons shared contribute to actionable strategies across regions. A big thank you to the participants, FAO, and the Ministry of Agriculture for hosting such a fruitful exchange. #SouthSouthCooperation #RiceValueChains #AgroPolicy #SustainableDevelopment #FAO